Handmade Savior beds are dressed with crisp white linens and down duvets.
Boundary
2-4 Boundary St.
0207-729-1051, www.theboundary.co.uk
17 rooms starting from $215/night
Tucked into London's East End, not far from the seedy pubs and greasy kebab shops of Shoreditch High Street, is a Victorian warehouse turned sophisticated hangout called Boundary. Conceived by British designer and entrepreneur Sir Terence Conran, his wife Lady Victoria and restaurant consultant Peter Prescott (their collective experience spans decades in London's high-design and restaurant scene) the project is part hotel, part meeting place. It has become the latest hot spot in a neighbourhood that is as well known for its Cockney gangsters and Dickensian slums, as it is for its loft conversions, one-of-a-kind galleries and trendy locals. Boundary's 17 rooms were inspired by the likes of architects Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe, and Charles and Ray Eames, as were the hotel's two restaurants, rooftop bar and bakery café, where you can stock up on everything from HP Sauce to gingerbread men. Boundary is a harmonious blend of edgy design and down-to-earth English charm.
Design Combining antique and contemporary, Boundary retains the façade of its original Victorian structure (red brickwork and large sash windows) with a completely revamped interior and eclectic art. The lobby is small and sleek, with a foyer that is accented with a tiny reception desk, colourful vases and two Scandinavian-Modern sitting chairs. The elevators are animated from floor to ceiling with black and white illustrations by Royal College of Art graduate Adam Simpson. Pieces from Conran's own collection, including black and white photos by Parisian photographer Noelle Hoeppe, are on display in the Boundary Restaurant. Artist Javaid Alvi's whimsical, multicoloured Chagall-inspired murals cover the main staircase. In contrast, hallways leading to the guest rooms are muted with shades of beige and grey, displaying neatly framed prints. The rooftop bar is a highlight with its open fireplace and 360-degree views of East London.
The Room Designers or design movements are the inspiration for each room. My Polly Dickens-designed Modern Dickensian suite has a slightly dark and twisted theme. The open-space living area has a black leather sofa and chairs and a glass-topped dining table with heavy, carved wooden legs. Splashes of colour come from the crimson lamp, bright tapestry rug and patchwork cushions. A large mirror framed in the same medley of colours and textures leans against the wall. Cupboards discreetly hide the mini-bar, coffee maker, safe and laundry basket. The high ceiling reaches to an upper level bedroom and a stunning chandelier that dangles with pages of Dickensian-era illustrations instead of crystal baubles. A king-sized handmade Savoir bed is dressed with crisp linens and a down duvets. The bathroom has luxurious touches such as under-floor heating and fancy bath products by REN, while its black and white mosaic tiles and classic hardware evoke another era. If you're tall, showering in the clawfoot tub will be a challenge. There are some unusual and off-putting touches as well, like the bed-side Adventurous Lovers Good Sex Guide, inconveniently placed bath hooks and newfangled light switches that are impossible to figure out.
The Amenities Gym and spa visits can be arranged at nearby establishments. There's no business centre, but complimentary Wi-Fi is available.
Service The reception desk is open 24 hours a day to make restaurant suggestions and to point you toward the nearest club, art gallery and market. Babysitting services and daily dry cleaning are available upon request.
Food The buzzing, basement level Boundary Restaurant features a diverse wine list and classic French and English cuisine such as roasted leg of lamb and Sunday roast. I preferred eating upstairs in the more casual Albion, a bakery/café that specializes in fresh bread and comfort food from 8 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. From a breakfast of Frog Pastries (their cheeky term for croissant and pain au chocolat) and a pot of tea complete with a hand-knit tea cozy, to a late night cheese and mushroom omelette with a side of mushy peas, it all tastes hearty and home-cooked. The Albion's quaint food shop sells everything from fresh vegetables and tins of Lyle's Golden Syrup to quiche and cupcakes.
Verdict Cool and contemporary design in the centre of London's ever-changing East End, this is a fashionable gathering place for locals as much as it is an enticing bolt hole for out-of-towners.
Special to The Globe and Mail